World Bee Day: what you can do to help our bees (and beekeepers)
When was the last time you saw a bee in your garden? Or at a park?
You might be surprised.
Varroa mite is to blame. First detected at the Port of Newcastle in June 2022, it has decimated bee populations and hives across the state.
About 40 million European honeybees were euthanised as part of a 15-month hive eradication program. Beekeepers are now tasked with managing their hives and treating varroa mite outbreaks as they arise.
Varroa mites are here to stay, and by infecting and killing bees, they continue to threaten the food systems that depend on them.
That includes us.
Today is World Bee Day and, to mark the occasion, people-powered fresh food network Box Divvy is encouraging people to help bees - and beekeepers - by turning everyday spaces into bee-friendly zones.
2 Pops Honey at Caves Beach is one of two small-scale NSW beekeepers who supply honey to Box Divvy for distribution to households.
"These producers are working with nature, not against it," said Jayne Travers-Drapes, co-founder of Box Divvy.
"They care about biodiversity, the quality of the honey, and the impact of their practices on the environment."
Russell Smith is the founder of 2 Pops Honey. His hives are in the eucalypt forests of the Wallarah Peninsula and the Watagan Mountains.
What began as a backyard hobby for him quickly became a mission to give bees the healthiest possible environment, based on a commitment to ethical beekeeping that supports local ecosystems, biodiversity and community health.
"Our goal has always been to keep things simple and natural for the bees," Mr Smith said.
"We avoid chemicals, give the bees plenty of forage, and let them do what they do best. Healthy bees mean healthy ecosystems - and better honey too."
Mr Smith started off with 10 hives and ended up with "120 or 130. Then varroa came and we lost them all".
"To see beekeepers, 50 or 60-year-old fellas, crying, it was devastating," he said.
"We've had to start over from scratch, but we had to think long and hard about it first. A lot of beekeepers went out of business ... a lot of older beekeepers found the task of dealing with varroa too great. It's a lot of work.
"We're never going to beat it now, it's here and it's not going anywhere. It's in Queensland and Victoria now too. We hear it all the time: we just don't see bees any more."
How can we support bees at home? Even small changes can make a big difference. Here are a few simple steps anyone can take:
"These small actions help keep our ecosystems functioning," Mr Travers-Drapes said.
"Bees are essential to our food supply - and the choices we make at home really do matter."
Box Divvy enables Australians to access fresh, high-quality produce and pantry staples at competitive prices, while ensuring fair payment to local farmers and ethical suppliers. It also brings neighbours together through a network of local food "hubs", allowing people to share seasonal produce and support growers doing things the right way.
When was the last time you saw a bee in your garden? Or at a park?
You might be surprised.
Varroa mite is to blame. First detected at the Port of Newcastle in June 2022, it has decimated bee populations and hives across the state.
About 40 million European honeybees were euthanised as part of a 15-month hive eradication program. Beekeepers are now tasked with managing their hives and treating varroa mite outbreaks as they arise.
Varroa mites are here to stay, and by infecting and killing bees, they continue to threaten the food systems that depend on them.
That includes us.
Today is World Bee Day and, to mark the occasion, people-powered fresh food network Box Divvy is encouraging people to help bees - and beekeepers - by turning everyday spaces into bee-friendly zones.
2 Pops Honey at Caves Beach is one of two small-scale NSW beekeepers who supply honey to Box Divvy for distribution to households.
"These producers are working with nature, not against it," said Jayne Travers-Drapes, co-founder of Box Divvy.
"They care about biodiversity, the quality of the honey, and the impact of their practices on the environment."
Russell Smith is the founder of 2 Pops Honey. His hives are in the eucalypt forests of the Wallarah Peninsula and the Watagan Mountains.
What began as a backyard hobby for him quickly became a mission to give bees the healthiest possible environment, based on a commitment to ethical beekeeping that supports local ecosystems, biodiversity and community health.
"Our goal has always been to keep things simple and natural for the bees," Mr Smith said.
"We avoid chemicals, give the bees plenty of forage, and let them do what they do best. Healthy bees mean healthy ecosystems - and better honey too."
Mr Smith started off with 10 hives and ended up with "120 or 130. Then varroa came and we lost them all".
"To see beekeepers, 50 or 60-year-old fellas, crying, it was devastating," he said.
"We've had to start over from scratch, but we had to think long and hard about it first. A lot of beekeepers went out of business ... a lot of older beekeepers found the task of dealing with varroa too great. It's a lot of work.
"We're never going to beat it now, it's here and it's not going anywhere. It's in Queensland and Victoria now too. We hear it all the time: we just don't see bees any more."
How can we support bees at home? Even small changes can make a big difference. Here are a few simple steps anyone can take:
"These small actions help keep our ecosystems functioning," Mr Travers-Drapes said.
"Bees are essential to our food supply - and the choices we make at home really do matter."
Box Divvy enables Australians to access fresh, high-quality produce and pantry staples at competitive prices, while ensuring fair payment to local farmers and ethical suppliers. It also brings neighbours together through a network of local food "hubs", allowing people to share seasonal produce and support growers doing things the right way.
When was the last time you saw a bee in your garden? Or at a park?
You might be surprised.
Varroa mite is to blame. First detected at the Port of Newcastle in June 2022, it has decimated bee populations and hives across the state.
About 40 million European honeybees were euthanised as part of a 15-month hive eradication program. Beekeepers are now tasked with managing their hives and treating varroa mite outbreaks as they arise.
Varroa mites are here to stay, and by infecting and killing bees, they continue to threaten the food systems that depend on them.
That includes us.
Today is World Bee Day and, to mark the occasion, people-powered fresh food network Box Divvy is encouraging people to help bees - and beekeepers - by turning everyday spaces into bee-friendly zones.
2 Pops Honey at Caves Beach is one of two small-scale NSW beekeepers who supply honey to Box Divvy for distribution to households.
"These producers are working with nature, not against it," said Jayne Travers-Drapes, co-founder of Box Divvy.
"They care about biodiversity, the quality of the honey, and the impact of their practices on the environment."
Russell Smith is the founder of 2 Pops Honey. His hives are in the eucalypt forests of the Wallarah Peninsula and the Watagan Mountains.
What began as a backyard hobby for him quickly became a mission to give bees the healthiest possible environment, based on a commitment to ethical beekeeping that supports local ecosystems, biodiversity and community health.
"Our goal has always been to keep things simple and natural for the bees," Mr Smith said.
"We avoid chemicals, give the bees plenty of forage, and let them do what they do best. Healthy bees mean healthy ecosystems - and better honey too."
Mr Smith started off with 10 hives and ended up with "120 or 130. Then varroa came and we lost them all".
"To see beekeepers, 50 or 60-year-old fellas, crying, it was devastating," he said.
"We've had to start over from scratch, but we had to think long and hard about it first. A lot of beekeepers went out of business ... a lot of older beekeepers found the task of dealing with varroa too great. It's a lot of work.
"We're never going to beat it now, it's here and it's not going anywhere. It's in Queensland and Victoria now too. We hear it all the time: we just don't see bees any more."
How can we support bees at home? Even small changes can make a big difference. Here are a few simple steps anyone can take:
"These small actions help keep our ecosystems functioning," Mr Travers-Drapes said.
"Bees are essential to our food supply - and the choices we make at home really do matter."
Box Divvy enables Australians to access fresh, high-quality produce and pantry staples at competitive prices, while ensuring fair payment to local farmers and ethical suppliers. It also brings neighbours together through a network of local food "hubs", allowing people to share seasonal produce and support growers doing things the right way.
When was the last time you saw a bee in your garden? Or at a park?
You might be surprised.
Varroa mite is to blame. First detected at the Port of Newcastle in June 2022, it has decimated bee populations and hives across the state.
About 40 million European honeybees were euthanised as part of a 15-month hive eradication program. Beekeepers are now tasked with managing their hives and treating varroa mite outbreaks as they arise.
Varroa mites are here to stay, and by infecting and killing bees, they continue to threaten the food systems that depend on them.
That includes us.
Today is World Bee Day and, to mark the occasion, people-powered fresh food network Box Divvy is encouraging people to help bees - and beekeepers - by turning everyday spaces into bee-friendly zones.
2 Pops Honey at Caves Beach is one of two small-scale NSW beekeepers who supply honey to Box Divvy for distribution to households.
"These producers are working with nature, not against it," said Jayne Travers-Drapes, co-founder of Box Divvy.
"They care about biodiversity, the quality of the honey, and the impact of their practices on the environment."
Russell Smith is the founder of 2 Pops Honey. His hives are in the eucalypt forests of the Wallarah Peninsula and the Watagan Mountains.
What began as a backyard hobby for him quickly became a mission to give bees the healthiest possible environment, based on a commitment to ethical beekeeping that supports local ecosystems, biodiversity and community health.
"Our goal has always been to keep things simple and natural for the bees," Mr Smith said.
"We avoid chemicals, give the bees plenty of forage, and let them do what they do best. Healthy bees mean healthy ecosystems - and better honey too."
Mr Smith started off with 10 hives and ended up with "120 or 130. Then varroa came and we lost them all".
"To see beekeepers, 50 or 60-year-old fellas, crying, it was devastating," he said.
"We've had to start over from scratch, but we had to think long and hard about it first. A lot of beekeepers went out of business ... a lot of older beekeepers found the task of dealing with varroa too great. It's a lot of work.
"We're never going to beat it now, it's here and it's not going anywhere. It's in Queensland and Victoria now too. We hear it all the time: we just don't see bees any more."
How can we support bees at home? Even small changes can make a big difference. Here are a few simple steps anyone can take:
"These small actions help keep our ecosystems functioning," Mr Travers-Drapes said.
"Bees are essential to our food supply - and the choices we make at home really do matter."
Box Divvy enables Australians to access fresh, high-quality produce and pantry staples at competitive prices, while ensuring fair payment to local farmers and ethical suppliers. It also brings neighbours together through a network of local food "hubs", allowing people to share seasonal produce and support growers doing things the right way.
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Jenny Young was in her late 40s when her audiologist told her she would need hearing aids. Phone conversations were hard, she needed friends and family to repeat themselves and she increasingly skipped the country music shows she'd always loved. "It was muffled. The words weren't clear, so I just gave up because I didn't know what song was coming on," Ms Young, now 58, told AAP. She initially ignored her audiologist's advice until life became too difficult. "Sometimes you felt excluded, and you tended to exclude yourself because you weren't quite sure what was said, and you didn't want to pop in and embarrass yourself," Ms Young said. After mixed results with hearing aids, her audiologist suggested her for a trial of Cochlear's latest implant, the 8th generation of the device which directly stimulates the auditory nerve, compared to hearing aids which amplify sound. Cochlear's Nucleus Nexa System, launched in Australia on Wednesday, is the first of its kind with upgradeable firmware and internal memory within the implant. The memory allowed users to store their personal hearing settings on the implant, while upgrades could improve the way the auditory nerve was stimulated, implant program director Robert Briggs said. "That's a big change, and in the longer run we're hoping new stimulation strategies will allow better clarity and of hearing and better speech understanding," Profesor Briggs told AAP. The new device was developed over a decade with the help of Cochlear's 600-strong research and development teams across six global centres. One in six Australians, or 3.6 million people, suffer from some form of hearing loss. Cochlear has provided more than 750,000 hearing implants to people around the world over four decades, and helped children born deaf to hear for the first time. When Ms Young first had the implant, she said interpreting the signals was like learning a new language. "To me it sounded like a lot of magpies talking all at once in my head," she said. But with time and a little patience from friends and family, she was soon back where she wanted to be. "Six weeks after I got my implant, I went to the Deni Ute Muster in the front row and watched my country music," she said. "So it has given me back my social aspect, my confidence ... It's just given me a new lease for life." Her hearing journey has been long and difficult at times, but she urged anyone noticing changes to get checked. "I just want to suggest anybody that has trouble hearing or think they're having a difficulty - get onto it," she said. "Seek help early, because it is life-changing and it improves the quality of life; emotionally, mentally, socially. "Don't sit back like I did."
